Just Mortgages has launched a new initiative aimed at tackling the growing talent shortage in the mortgage advice sector, by supporting individuals without qualifications to take their first steps into the profession.

The scheme, known as Just Learning, is designed to help aspiring brokers achieve their CeMAP 1 qualification — the industry standard for mortgage advisers — and culminates in a guaranteed interview with a sales manager at Just Mortgages. Successful candidates will then progress to the firm’s established academy programme.

The launch of Just Learning comes as the number of qualified advisers in the UK continues to decline. With many in the sector approaching retirement and too few entering to replace them, Just Mortgages’ leadership has voiced concern about the sustainability of advice-led mortgage services.

John Phillips, chief executive of Just Mortgages and parent company Spicerhaart, said: “It’s no secret that adviser numbers are only getting smaller, whether it’s career changers or retirements among an ageing broker population. Despite this, very little is being done within the industry to bring in new people and backfill the talent pool.

“If we want to ensure that the vast majority of mortgages are still arranged through advisers, firms absolutely need to be creating those pathways.”

He added that while the firm’s academy will continue to focus on those already qualified, Just Learning has been created specifically to bridge the gap for unqualified but ambitious candidates.

“We hope more firms will take on similar initiatives to help attract more people into the industry, as well as more young people into a career in advice,” said Phillips.

STRUCTURED PROGRAMME

Those accepted onto Just Learning will undergo a structured revision programme and a week-long, face-to-face training course that brings together all the necessary study materials, coaching and preparation to sit the CeMAP 1 exam.

The course is open to individuals from all backgrounds, including those with no prior experience in financial services.

Rodney Sloan, head of learning and development at Just Mortgages, added: “When you consider the average age of mortgage brokers is in the mid-50s, the challenge we face as an industry becomes abundantly clear.

“The launch of Just Learning is really exciting and means that no matter where you are in your journey — or even if you’ve never considered a career in advice before — our proposition is broad enough to provide a route into the industry.”

The new programme is set to complement Just Mortgages’ existing academy, which runs at least four times per year and will operate six intakes in 2025 alone. It currently delivers up to 50 newly trained advisers annually.

POST TRAINING SUPPORT

Once academy training is completed, new recruits benefit from an extensive support framework that includes mentoring, learning and development resources, and access to the firm’s digital training platform.

This offers a library of modules covering sales, product knowledge, compliance, marketing, leadership and wellbeing, with both in-person and remote delivery options.

Interviewed candidates who are successful will be placed where they are best suited — either within an estate agency branch or alongside a business principal in the self-employed network.

Sloan said the company had already seen the transformative impact of its academy on those entering the industry with existing qualifications.

“We are incredibly proud of our academy programme, which has helped find some fantastic talent who have gone on to become some of our most successful advisers,” he said. “Adding Just Learning is the logical next step.”